South Africa ended the third day of the final Test against Australia at Newlands on 140/4. The Proteas lead by 40 runs, with six wickets in hand and two days left, IOL reported.
Nathan Lyon took the last wicket of the day in the second-last over. Temba Bavuma tried to whip a full ball through the leg side, and it spun through the gap between bat and pad. The captain was out for 35.
Aiden Markram and David Bedingham had already gone cheaply. Markram made 1, and Bedingham scored 11.
Bedingham, who bats at No. 3, fell to the short ball for the second time in the match. IOL reported that he kicked the Newlands turf after he was out.
Bouncers have troubled the Western Province batter before. Sri Lankan seamer Asitha Fernando bowled many at him two seasons ago, IOL said. Former New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner also tested him with the short ball.
Markram was dropped by Travis Head at short cover in the first innings. Head made no mistake in the second innings. Markram hit the ball to the only Australian fielder placed in front of the wicket.
Opener Marques Ackerman was the top scorer with 62, his second half-century of the Test. The left-hander handled Australia’s short-ball attack well and kept his pull shots on the ground.
His stand with Bavuma ended when Mitchell Starc aimed a bouncer at his helmet. The ball looped through to Cameron Green in the slips. Starc finished the day with 2/29.
There was some confusion after the dismissal, as Ackerman asked for a review once the 15-second timer had run out. Television replays showed the ball had brushed the face of the bat before it hit the grille of his helmet.
Earlier, the South African bowlers held Australia to a first-innings lead of exactly 100. Australia were all out for 429 shortly after lunch, in reply to South Africa’s 329.
Josh Inglis made 102, his second Test century, and Alex Carey scored 80. Simon Harmer took 4/104 and Marco Jansen claimed 3/60 for the Proteas.
Matthew Breetzke, on 19 not out, and Ryan Rickelton, on 8 not out, will resume the innings on the fourth morning.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.